10 of 11Paddle shifters make the 2012 Infiniti FX50 feel like an enthusiast car.

Photo by Infiniti

11 of 11The interior if the 2012 Infiniti FX50 is completed with an analog clock in the center.

Photo by Infiniti

2012 Infiniti FX50

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: I've driven a lot of cars in my life, but the 2012 Infiniti FX50 is the first one that's ever warned me about a tornado. Ominous skies were looming as I picked up my son from preschool in the FX, but we were paying more attention to our luxurious accommodations; the inside of this odd duck is a study in luxury that could just as easily have been crafted by Land Rover or Jaguar.

The styling is polarizing, but I actually find the FX attractive despite not generally being a fan of the Ace and Gary school of design. The low, swooping lines, big wheels and short greenhouse do sacrifice interior room for style, but the FX isn't aiming at utility buyers.

Particularly with the V8 underhood, Infiniti is appealing to a very small subset of buyers with the FX—the performance-minded enthusiast who, paradoxically, prefers the driving dynamics of an SUV. Or who thinks that they offer more utility than a good-sized sedan (unlikely, at least in the case of the FX).

So, who's paying $66K for a smallish, good-but-not-great performing luxury crossover with atrocious fuel economy? Right: Range Rover Sport buyers. But they're all over at the Land Rover dealership admiring burl wood samples. Who does that leave?

In the midst of pondering the FX customer conundrum, a woman's voice broke in over the satellite radio: “Tornado warning in 23 miles.” My 3-year-old looked at me and I looked at him, then we both set our gaze on the clouds as Infiniti's target market grew crystal clear: Luxury sport crossover buyers in Oklahoma and Kansas.

Well played, Infiniti. Well played.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: The FX50 is an odd vehicle, and I'm not just talking about its looks, which remind me of a high-top sneaker. Because of the somewhat chopped roof, the view from behind the wheel is odd, as well, with limited vision out the rear.

Dynamically, with nearly 400 hp, it scoots right along. But with more than 4,500 pounds, this thing is way heavy, and it rolls through the corners as you'd expect a big, heavy SUV to do. Actually, it cornered better than I thought it would.

I'm just wondering who is looking for a vehicle like this? From a utility standpoint, there's really not that much space in the cargo area. I'd think you'd be better off with a full-size sedan. And then you'd be driving a car, not a big, heavy, crossover sport ute thingy.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The FX50 is a bit of an indulgence for the crossover buyer who wants something sexy and sort of practical. Sure it's still a crossover, but there are a lot of cheaper, larger things in which to haul a Labrador.

The positives are many, though for this price tag it better be a heck of a vehicle. The V8 is strong from launches and during merging on the expressway. At 390 hp, there's plenty of juice to accomplish anything you would need to do in the course of everyday driving. I did find this car a bit uneven when really jabbing the throttle. The power comes on copiously, and it almost seems to shift too aggressively. For the uninitiated, it's a little too easy to make the long hood bob and dive like a speed boat during acceleration. Still, on the open road, this is an outstanding cruiser.

The cabin is sumptuous, with elegant materials and classy shapes. That theme continues outside, as the chopped roof and sexy fenders make for the curviest, slinkiest and in general sexiest SUV on the market. Add in the big wheels, and this thing has old-school chutzpah.

The downsides: It is pricey and slurps gas.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Whenever I get asked about my favorite crossover/tall wagon vehicle, the Infiniti FX always comes to mind. Why? Because I think it's one heck of a performer considering its taller ride height, and you can get it with a honkin' 5.0-liter V8. You won't mistake it for a sports car, but for a 4,500-pound vehicle, it's plenty fun to throw around.

The thrust from the engine has the speedometer needle pointing at 60 mph shortly after launch, and the seven-speed automatic gearbox performs respectably with a manual shift mode and rev-matching during downshifts.

But what's power without control? The FX turns in quickly with a crank of the decently weighted steering wheel. Our tester includes rear-active steering, which is part of the optional sport package that also adds a continuously damping system and the comfortable and supportive front sport seats. Oh, and we can't forget about the massive 21-inch rubber this rides on to help contribute to the FX's handling prowess.

I have to give props to the sport brakes, too. There are four-pot calipers up front with a firm pedal to control them with to slow things with little effort.

And what Infiniti experience would be complete without warning beeps going off regularly as you roll down the road? The technology package adds lane-departure warning and distance-control assist, which defaults on. Thankfully, they can be turned off, and that's what I do immediately after hearing the first audible tone.

When it comes to competitors, the car that I think most closely matches up with the FX50 is the Porsche Cayenne S with 400 hp. Both having a sporty demeanor and can seat five; however, the Porsche is certainly a pricier specimen. Base price is $66,825 and by the time you option it up to have similar equipment that this Infiniti has, the German's price tag will easily climb into the $80,000 range. So if you put it that way, the Infiniti's near-$67,000 as-tested price isn't too over the top.

As Roger said, the FX's target audience isn't very large, and from a practical standpoint it doesn't offer a whole lot of cargo-carrying capacity. But for someone looking for slightly more cargo-hauling ability, a serviceable back seat, AWD and more than enough power, the FX50 is for them.

Andrew Stoy
- Digital editor Andrew Stoy is an avid enthusiast of all cars who has spent the past 15 years writing about the automobile in print, online and for advertising and PR firms.
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